Inside the Chengen Hall of the Southern Shu Kingdom's imperial palace, one is surrounded by exquisite carvings and magnificent decorations.
The exquisite wood carving art cleverly incorporates auspicious patterns of dragons and phoenixes, as well as swirling cloud patterns.
This is the palace where the Empress of the Southern Shu Kingdom lived before her death.
At this moment, the empty court hall was deserted, except for the dignified-looking man who sat alone on the phoenix throne, his gaze deep and sorrowful.
When Su Yi looked at him from the doorway, he always felt that the majestic figure seemed particularly lonely and desolate.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded in the hall and stopped not far behind the man.
The man then looked up and said slowly, "Oh, you're back."
Su Yi slowly approached, "I heard that you are incurable and are about to die."
Emperor Gaozong of the South, however, changed his sorrowful expression and laughed.
"That's right, isn't it strange? You were gone for a year, and I was sick for a year. As soon as you came back, I got better. It was truly destiny."
Su Yi rolled his eyes and said, "Hey old man, you're getting on in years, can you stop cursing yourself all the time?"
"Hey~ still so disrespectful. I am the emperor of the Southern Shu Kingdom and your maternal grandfather. Stop calling me 'old man' all the time."
Su Yi poured a cup of tea from the side, handed it to Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Dynasty, and said, "Speak, why did you call me back in such a hurry?"
"Hehe." Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Dynasty chuckled and accepted the tea that Su Yi handed him.
“My dear grandson, you still have some filial piety towards your grandfather. If you show more filial piety, take over the burden from me, and I can relax and enjoy my old age.”
Su Yi glanced at Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Dynasty and said, "There are plenty of people who want this responsibility from you, why do you have to come and cause me trouble?"
Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Dynasty snorted, looked him up and down, and said, "What, after being chased like a dog by the Lin family that time, are you willing to give up this position to those people? Or are you afraid of them?"
Su Yi, however, was unconvinced: "Don't try to provoke me, I'm not falling for that."
Emperor Gaozong of the South said, "You don't want the Eastern Yue Kingdom, and you don't want the Southern Shu Kingdom either. Be careful that your woman doesn't run off with other men."
Su Yi paused for a moment, his expression somewhat unnatural, and asked, "How did you know?"
Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Dynasty said, "Hehe, you don't need to worry about that. I'll draft an edict tomorrow. You should quickly take over my position, then trick that person into your life, have a bunch of little brats, and I'll help you raise them."
Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Dynasty had already begun to imagine that Su Yi would take over his position, marry a wife, and have a bunch of great-grandchildren for him—life couldn't be more wonderful.
After saying that, Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Dynasty looked at Su Yi and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Su Yi said, "I always thought you would persuade me to marry one of those noble ladies."
Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty raised an eyebrow: "If you are willing, it will certainly save you a lot of trouble."
Su Yi scoffed and replied, "What I fear least is trouble."
Emperor Gaozong looked at Su Yi with satisfaction and said, "That's why I'm relieved to give you this position."
Su Yi picked up a teacup from the side and took a sip: "From the first time I met you when I was ten years old, you wanted me to take your place. I feel like there's some kind of conspiracy involved."
"You heartless brat." Emperor Gaozong slapped him on the shoulder.
"You are my precious grandson, would I ever betray you? Don't you even know what I'm talking about? My Southern Shu Kingdom, looking across the entire world, what country can compare to my Southern Shu Kingdom in terms of its vast territory, abundant resources, and stability!"
The tea that Su Yi had brought to his lips was suddenly slapped by Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Dynasty, causing most of it to spill out.
Su Yi looked at him speechlessly, but before he could speak, the Southern High Emperor said:
"No way, you're still a virgin, and you're already this weak? No wonder no matter how you pursue her, she ignores you. Why don't I find a royal physician to take a look at you?"
“There’s no need for that,” Su Yi said. “I’m not afraid.”
Emperor Gaozong chuckled again: "Then give me a definite answer, when will you take over this throne?"
Su Yi put down his teacup, rolled his eyes, and said, "Let's wait until those people behave themselves."
Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Kingdom said, "Then hurry up. I can't wait, and I can't wait for your woman either. The people of Dongyue Kingdom have even less patience to wait."
Su Yi hummed in agreement.
Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Dynasty said, "When will you bring that woman to your grandfather's place? I'd like to see what kind of woman is so capable that she can hold you back and even make you abandon your grandfather when he is seriously ill?"
Su Yi glared at Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Dynasty.
"You're just trying to trick me into coming back to take your place. After all these years, I've finally found such a wonderful woman, and you're just making things worse. What am I supposed to do if she gets snatched away by someone else? Live a lonely and miserable life?"
Su Yi thought of Mu Jin and the corners of his mouth curved slightly: "Also, if you want to see her, it depends on whether she is willing to see you."
Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Dynasty sighed, "Alas, sons grow up and cannot be kept at home."
Su Yi smiled and said, "Maybe soon. Isn't next month the Imperial Hunt?"
Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty hummed in agreement: "But in such a chaotic place, are you willing to let her come along?"
Su Yi smiled gently: "This kind of scene is nothing to her. She is a very good person. You will know when you see her."
Emperor Gaozong nodded: "If you like it, that's fine. Your grandfather can't control that much."
Su Yi chatted with Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Dynasty for a few more minutes before leaving the palace.
It was late at night when Su Yi returned to the princess's residence. As soon as he entered, the old steward approached him with an invitation.
"Your Highness, Princess Wenhui said that the General's Mansion will be hosting a banquet tomorrow. Knowing that you are returning today, she would like you and Miss Mu to have a gathering at the General's Mansion."
Su Yi sneered: "You can't even control yourself this quickly?"
The old steward smiled awkwardly: "I heard that Princess Yue Ru caused a huge scene when she returned to the General's Mansion."
Su Yi held the post and pondered it with a half-smile.
"Young Prince, are you going?"
Su Yi said, "Go~ Why not go? When I come back here, there will always be some people and some things that I need to face."
The old butler nodded: "And what about Miss Mu?"
“She will go.” Su Yi said, then turned and walked towards the backyard.
When Su Yi entered the backyard, Mu Jin had just finished her dinner.
Su Yi handed a secret letter to Mu Jin, who looked at him with suspicion.
Su Yi said, "It's a secret letter from Dongyue."
Mu Jin's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately took the secret letter from Su Yi and began to read it.
After reading it, she frowned and handed the secret letter back to Su Yi, pondering for a moment.
"Su Yuntian will not let my father and brothers go."
Su Yi nodded: "My people have found out that since Su Yuntian returned from Beiqi, his people have been secretly interacting with Beiqi. I suspect he can't wait any longer."
Mu Jin asked, "What do you mean you can't wait?"
Su Yi scoffed, "They can't wait for the old men in the palace to die of old age and abdicate."
Mu Jin was horrified: "You mean, he's plotting to usurp the throne?"
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